Friday, April 14, 2006
Illegal Immigration and the Effects on Elections
Exerpts from:
Immigration Reform or 'Cooking the Apportionment Books'
By Frank Salvato
CNSNews.com Commentary
April 14, 2006
I have been saying for quite some time that border security and immigration reform are two separate issues.
True, these two issues share a common catalyst, illegal immigration, but this does not marry the two. Immigration reform has to do with how people come here legally and the process that entails. Border security has to do with keeping the ineligible, the unwanted and the avowed enemy out. Neglecting both of these issues for decades already has left its mark on American government.
When people think of illegal immigration they tend to think of it in terms of how it affects two general issues; the economy and security. While illegal immigration concerns people who may be willing to take the low-wage jobs currently done by those who have come to this country illegally, others are alarmed by the almost non-existent border security and the possibility of malcontents waltzing across the Southern border of the United States with dirty bombs or bio-chemicals to be fashioned into weapons of mass destruction.
Both of these issues are legitimate and serious. They both pose a major threat to the future of our country. But there is another factor in the issue of illegal immigration that most Americans don't recognize on its face. This is its impact on Congressional apportionment; the calculation of seats each state gets in the US House of Representatives and the effect illegal immigration has on the Electoral College...
...In the US House of Representatives, seats are apportioned based on the total population of each state relative to the rest of the nation. This population total - because of the way the census is administered - includes non-citizens, including illegal aliens.
In his testimony before the House Committee on Federalism and the Census, Mr. Camarota alluded to the fact that the more than 18 million non-citizens living in the United States in 2000 were equal to nearly 29 congressional seats. He noted that states with a large non-citizen population will gain seats in the House at the expense of those with a more limited number of non-citizens. In 2000, approximately 70 percent of all non-citizens lived in six states; 50 percent living in just three.
A 2003 report by the Center for Immigration Studies titled, "Remaking the Political Landscape: The Impact of Illegal and Legal Immigration on Congressional Apportionment" found:
...that the presence of non-citizens caused a total of nine [House] seats to change hands. Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin each lost a seat that they had prior to the 2000 Census while Montana, Kentucky and Utah each failed to gain a seat they otherwise would have gained, but for the presence of non-citizens in other states. Of the nine seats redistributed [because of] non-citizens, 6 went to California, while Texas, New York and Florida each gained a seat. New York retained a seat it otherwise would have lost.
The report goes on to say that of the nine states that lost seats due to non-citizens, four were the result of those here illegally.
The citizen to non-citizen ratios in states with high numbers of non-citizens also means that it takes fewer votes to win a district's House seat. In 2002 it only took 68,000 votes to win a House seat in California where it took, on average, 101,000 votes to win one in any of the states that lost House seats because of non-citizens. This certainly endangers the "one man one vote" principle.
Read more here.
Immigration Reform or 'Cooking the Apportionment Books'
By Frank Salvato
CNSNews.com Commentary
April 14, 2006
I have been saying for quite some time that border security and immigration reform are two separate issues.
True, these two issues share a common catalyst, illegal immigration, but this does not marry the two. Immigration reform has to do with how people come here legally and the process that entails. Border security has to do with keeping the ineligible, the unwanted and the avowed enemy out. Neglecting both of these issues for decades already has left its mark on American government.
When people think of illegal immigration they tend to think of it in terms of how it affects two general issues; the economy and security. While illegal immigration concerns people who may be willing to take the low-wage jobs currently done by those who have come to this country illegally, others are alarmed by the almost non-existent border security and the possibility of malcontents waltzing across the Southern border of the United States with dirty bombs or bio-chemicals to be fashioned into weapons of mass destruction.
Both of these issues are legitimate and serious. They both pose a major threat to the future of our country. But there is another factor in the issue of illegal immigration that most Americans don't recognize on its face. This is its impact on Congressional apportionment; the calculation of seats each state gets in the US House of Representatives and the effect illegal immigration has on the Electoral College...
...In the US House of Representatives, seats are apportioned based on the total population of each state relative to the rest of the nation. This population total - because of the way the census is administered - includes non-citizens, including illegal aliens.
In his testimony before the House Committee on Federalism and the Census, Mr. Camarota alluded to the fact that the more than 18 million non-citizens living in the United States in 2000 were equal to nearly 29 congressional seats. He noted that states with a large non-citizen population will gain seats in the House at the expense of those with a more limited number of non-citizens. In 2000, approximately 70 percent of all non-citizens lived in six states; 50 percent living in just three.
A 2003 report by the Center for Immigration Studies titled, "Remaking the Political Landscape: The Impact of Illegal and Legal Immigration on Congressional Apportionment" found:
...that the presence of non-citizens caused a total of nine [House] seats to change hands. Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin each lost a seat that they had prior to the 2000 Census while Montana, Kentucky and Utah each failed to gain a seat they otherwise would have gained, but for the presence of non-citizens in other states. Of the nine seats redistributed [because of] non-citizens, 6 went to California, while Texas, New York and Florida each gained a seat. New York retained a seat it otherwise would have lost.
The report goes on to say that of the nine states that lost seats due to non-citizens, four were the result of those here illegally.
The citizen to non-citizen ratios in states with high numbers of non-citizens also means that it takes fewer votes to win a district's House seat. In 2002 it only took 68,000 votes to win a House seat in California where it took, on average, 101,000 votes to win one in any of the states that lost House seats because of non-citizens. This certainly endangers the "one man one vote" principle.
Read more here.
Friday, April 07, 2006
The FairTax and Immigration
Given the current debate on immigration laws, we have been asked repeatedly how the FairTax relates to this issue. The answer is that the FairTax will for the first time tax undocumented workers who now evade U.S. taxes. That is just one more reason to support the FairTax. Under the FairTax all residents contribute to the tax base, whether they are living in the U.S. legally or illegally.
Under our current tax system, many non-citizens do not pay income and payroll taxes, even though they are here earning wages. They also may receive many benefits in the form of health care, education, roads, and much more. Under the FairTax, if someone is not a lawful resident but purchases goods or services for consumption here, not only do they pay the FairTax on each purchase, they are not eligible to receive a prebate to offset the taxes on their purchases up to the poverty level. In other words, they pay 100 percent of their sales tax, every time they buy. The only way to get a prebate and therefore not pay taxes on the purchase of essential goods and services is to become a legal resident.
So in effect, the FairTax helps promote legal immigration by insuring that only lawful residents receive the prebate.
Leo Linbeck
Chairman/CEO
Americans For Fair Taxation
Under our current tax system, many non-citizens do not pay income and payroll taxes, even though they are here earning wages. They also may receive many benefits in the form of health care, education, roads, and much more. Under the FairTax, if someone is not a lawful resident but purchases goods or services for consumption here, not only do they pay the FairTax on each purchase, they are not eligible to receive a prebate to offset the taxes on their purchases up to the poverty level. In other words, they pay 100 percent of their sales tax, every time they buy. The only way to get a prebate and therefore not pay taxes on the purchase of essential goods and services is to become a legal resident.
So in effect, the FairTax helps promote legal immigration by insuring that only lawful residents receive the prebate.
Leo Linbeck
Chairman/CEO
Americans For Fair Taxation
Scientists Blame the Sun for Global Warming
Evil conservatives with SUV's may not be the cause of global warming. Read more here.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Letter to the Editor - Tax Return Preparers
In a recent report for World News Tonight, ABC News’ Nancy Weiner showed that the nation’s largest tax return preparers can “actually create more problems with the IRS for their customers.” Her report focused on the lack of training required of most tax return preparers, yet some of the biggest CPA firms in the nation will admit that even they cannot keep up with the constantly morphing tax code. Government data shows that even IRS agents “give the wrong advice more than a third of the time.” With over 800 changes to the tax code in the average year, the problem lies with the tax code itself and not with the tax return preparers. Congress wants to require more training – a band-aid fix to a Grand Canyon sized problem. Congress needs to abolish the tax code and adopt the FairTax (H.R. 25/S. 25). Senator John Cornyn has just signed on as a co-sponsor of the FairTax after carefully evaluating every tax reform measure on the table. Everyone should look at the details of the FairTax with an open mind. Every problem people have with a national sales tax has been addressed within the bill. The FairTax is the best solution to all the problems with the tax code and would put an end to tax return preparation.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Streaming Video of Bald Eagles
I love bald eagles. I love their majestic beauty. Check out this live video feed of a bald eagle's nest. A pair of eagles takes turns tending to a pair of eggs. Over the weekend my family left the live feed running almost constantly. When you open the link, it should automatically open Windows Media Player for you. Enjoy.
Sunday, April 02, 2006
New Opinion Ballot on Immigration
Thank you for using National Write Your Congressman Mail System
Message sent to the following recipients:
Senator Hutchison
Senator Cornyn
Message text follows:
Steve Harris
(Address Omitted)
April 1, 2006
[recipient address was inserted here]
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) has opened up the floor for debate on two measures that would overhaul our country’s immigration policies. Sen. Frist’s plan (S.2454) favors tighter border enforcement and security measures. A bipartisan bill (S.1033) adheres to the proposal put forth by President Bush to create a guest worker program allowing some illegal immigrants to legalize their status. Supporters of the guest worker idea say that it will improve security increasing the number of documented immigrants. Opponents argue that it will encourage others to break the law and enter the US illegally.
As your constituent, I would like to know your thought on this issue.
Should Congress strenghten border enforcement? ( XXXX ) Yes ( ) No ( ) Undecided
In a post 9/11 world, we cannot permit the unrestricted flow of drugs, weapons, and people over our borders. Demonstrators nationwide illustrated this week that many still give their allegiance to Mexico, and not to the U.S. We also know that many people entering the country illegally come from Islamic countries whose people and governments want to destroy our liberty. There must be NO COMPROMISE on this issue! Once we control the border, then we can decide what to do with the illegal
immigrants already here.
Should Congress create a guest worker program? ( ) Yes ( XX ) No ( ) Undecided
At one time I thought the new guest worker visa program was a good idea. I have talked to many people that either immigrated to the U.S. themselves or have family that immigrated. Those people really have a problem with any program that allows illegal immigrants to jump ahead of people waiting in other countries to come here legally. I now agree with them. We need to streamline the process to make it easier and less expensive to immigrate. We could even dramaticly increase the number of visas awarded each year. But every single illegal immigrant within our borders needs exit our country and complete an application requesting permission to
return.
Sincerely,
Steve Harris
Message sent to the following recipients:
Senator Hutchison
Senator Cornyn
Message text follows:
Steve Harris
(Address Omitted)
April 1, 2006
[recipient address was inserted here]
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) has opened up the floor for debate on two measures that would overhaul our country’s immigration policies. Sen. Frist’s plan (S.2454) favors tighter border enforcement and security measures. A bipartisan bill (S.1033) adheres to the proposal put forth by President Bush to create a guest worker program allowing some illegal immigrants to legalize their status. Supporters of the guest worker idea say that it will improve security increasing the number of documented immigrants. Opponents argue that it will encourage others to break the law and enter the US illegally.
As your constituent, I would like to know your thought on this issue.
Should Congress strenghten border enforcement? ( XXXX ) Yes ( ) No ( ) Undecided
In a post 9/11 world, we cannot permit the unrestricted flow of drugs, weapons, and people over our borders. Demonstrators nationwide illustrated this week that many still give their allegiance to Mexico, and not to the U.S. We also know that many people entering the country illegally come from Islamic countries whose people and governments want to destroy our liberty. There must be NO COMPROMISE on this issue! Once we control the border, then we can decide what to do with the illegal
immigrants already here.
Should Congress create a guest worker program? ( ) Yes ( XX ) No ( ) Undecided
At one time I thought the new guest worker visa program was a good idea. I have talked to many people that either immigrated to the U.S. themselves or have family that immigrated. Those people really have a problem with any program that allows illegal immigrants to jump ahead of people waiting in other countries to come here legally. I now agree with them. We need to streamline the process to make it easier and less expensive to immigrate. We could even dramaticly increase the number of visas awarded each year. But every single illegal immigrant within our borders needs exit our country and complete an application requesting permission to
return.
Sincerely,
Steve Harris
The Perils of Economic Ignorance - Congressman Ron Paul (R TX-14)
"I believe one of the greatest threats facing this nation is the willful economic ignorance of the political class. Many of our elected officials at every level have no understanding of economics whatsoever, yet they wield tremendous power over our economy through taxes, regulations, and countless other costs associated with government. They spend your money with little or no thought given to the economic consequences of their actions. It is indeed a tribute to the American entrepreneurial spirit that we have enjoyed such prosperity over the decades; clearly it is in spite of government policies rather than because of them..." Read more here.
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